Political Activities Officer - Vice President

We're seeking someone to join our team as a Government and Political Activities Compliance (GPAC) Officer to provide advisory coverage to business units on the various aspects of U.S. government interactions, administer the Firm's policy on U.S. political contributions and fundraising activities of employees, as well as compliance with applicable U.S. federal, state, and municipal rules that govern business interactions with government entities.

In the Legal & Compliance division, we assist the Firm in achieving its business objectives by facilitating and overseeing the Firm's management of legal, regulatory and franchise risk. This is a Vice President level position within the Government and Political Activities Compliance Group (GPAC) which focuses on compliance with U.S. federal, state and municipal regulations governing interactions with U.S. government officials, including political contribution/pay-to-play regulations, lobbying laws, placement agent activity, outside business activities, and gifts & entertainment/ethics rules across all of Morgan Stanley's various Business Units.

GPAC designs, executes, and monitors applicable policies, procedures, and controls governing employee political activities and interactions with U.S. government officials.

Since 1935, Morgan Stanley is known as a global leader in financial services, always evolving and innovating to better serve our clients and our communities in more than 40 countries around the world.

• Managing the firm's pre-clearance processes for employee and corporate political activities, outside government/political activities, post-government employment restrictions, outside business activities, and gifts and business entertainment requests for U.S. Government Officials
• Review business solicitations of U.S. government entity business to determine if procurement lobbyist registration is required
• Managing the firm's various political law filings such as lobbying reports and pay-to-play certifications
• Creating and conducting trainings for business units, as well as other areas that serve a control function, to address pay-to-play and governmental ethics issues
• Monitoring and testing adherence to the firm's political law compliance program
• Collaborating cross-functionally with other GFC and Legal and Compliance stakeholders on the development and implementation of technology projects, internal audits, regulatory requests and implementation of controls for the overall political law compliance program
• Maintaining and updating applicable policies and procedures consistent with current regulations.

• Knowledge of US pay-to-play and ethics issues at federal, state and municipal levels
• 7+ years of relevant experience, preferably at a large/complex financial institution, law firm, or government/regulatory body.
• Exceptional research, written, and verbal communications skills, attention to detail, effective time management and project management.
• Ability to assess regulatory requirements and advise stakeholders on compliance obligations and risk mitigation strategies
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively and engage confidently with business clients and senior leaders across Legal and Compliance
• Demonstrates strong technology aptitude, with the ability to quickly learn new systems and tools, and using AI and available tools to implement process enhancements,
• Proficient with Copilot, Claude, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Adobe
• JD preferred, Bachelor's degree required

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries.

At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an…